Arshdeep Singh makes history: First Indian to take 150 T20I wickets

India pacer Arshdeep Singh made history on Friday, becoming the first Indian bowler to collect 150 wickets in T20 Internationals.

Arshdeep hit the milestone by removing New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner in the penultimate over of the fourth T20I at Eden Park, Auckland.

The left-arm seam bowler has recorded 150 wickets across 103 matches and 99 innings, holding an average of 20.62, an economy rate of 8.65, and best figures of 5/51.


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This landmark elevated Arshdeep to ninth place on the list of top all-time T20I wicket-takers. He also became just the third fast bowler to snap up 150 wickets in the format, following New Zealand's Tim Southee and Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman in a ranking otherwise dominated by spin bowlers. Afghanistan's Rashid Khan heads the overall tally with 200 wickets, standing as the lone bowler to breach the 200-wicket threshold in T20Is.

Additionally, the Indian paceman established a new record for the most T20I wickets taken by a Full Member nation bowler in a single calendar year. Snagging 40 wickets in 2026, he eclipsed Ireland's Josh Little, who grabbed 39 wickets in 2022. Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga (38 in 2024) and fellow Indian Bhuvneshwar Kumar (37 in 2022) round out the top four.

Arshdeep ranks as the third-fastest bowler to gather 150 T20I wickets based on balls delivered, reaching the mark in 2,143 deliveries. Only Wanindu Hasaranga (2,035 balls) and Rashid Khan (2,098 balls) accomplished the feat in fewer deliveries.

The Indian speedster completed his four-over spell with figures of 1/38, giving up the fewest runs among all bowlers who bowled their full four-over quota. On the other side, New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips commanded the first innings with an explosive 107 off 49 balls, steering the home team to a massive 260-run target. Having already wrapped up the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead, India will aim to push their winning streak to 4-0 despite facing a steep run chase.